Baby Haisleigh was just one when she fell ill with meningococcal septicaemia. She’s been left with an acquired brain injury and the family does not know what the future holds for them, as Kayleigh, from Newcastle upon Tyne, tells us here.
“We attended A&E on 6th June at 8pm. We told doctors that Haisleigh’s symptoms included a high temperature, which was hard to control with medication. She also had cold and mottled feet, was shivering and vomiting.
“The hospital kept us until 7am, but decided against testing and minimum to no observations were taken. They sent us home saying she had a stomach bug and to return in 48 hours if she was still vomiting.
Grey and limp
“My daughter was grey and could not stay awake. She was limp and her temperature was high. Around 9am I found a rash and two spots. I called an ambulance again, who told me it was not meningitis but that she would be checked at hospital.
“By the time we arrived we later learnt she only had 40 minutes to live. She was transferred to Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary. Her last chance was to be placed on an ECMO machine (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation – a lifesaving form of artificial life support) at Freeman Hospital as it was likely we were going to lose her.
Suffered a stroke
“Haisleigh suffered a stroke on the ECMO, but managed to come off it, although she was paralysed and had suffered brain damage. She then started having seizures.
“Haisleigh has now learnt to walk and talk again and we are forever proud and grateful. We do not know what the future holds for us, but we know we are lucky. I do now have a constant fear of illness and great uncertainty over what the future holds for our baby.
“There is a lot more to Haisleigh’s story, but as we are currently seeking legal advice we will leave it at that.”
